Open letter demanding release of Sakineh, her son, lawyer and two journalists
Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani’s son, Sajjad Ghaderzadeh, and lawyer, Houtan Kian, were arrested along with a German journalist and photographer in Tabriz on 10 October 2010 at 1900 hours local time. The security forces raided the lawyer’s office where an interview was taking place and arrested all four.
Their whereabouts are currently unknown and no news has been received of their situation since the arrests. It is known they were arrested given that at the time of the raid, one of the journalists was on the phone speaking with Mina Ahadi, Spokesperson of the International Committee against Stoning and International Committee against Execution. The four have not returned home or to their hotels since; the Islamic regime has confirmed the arrest of the two journalists.
We, the undersigned, unequivocally condemn the Islamic Republic of Iran for the arrests and call for the immediate release of the four. We also demand the release of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani and an end to stoning and execution.
Mina Ahadi, Spokesperson, International Committee against Stoning and International Committee against Execution, Germany
Maryam Namazie, Spokesperson, Iran Solidarity and One Law for All, UK
A C Grayling, Writer and Philosopher, UK
Alfred Breitman, Writer, EveryOne Group, Italy
Angela Payne, HQ Coordinator, Anti-Injustice Movement, UK
Anne Zelensky, Présidente, La Ligue du Droit des Femmes, France
Anne-marie Lizin, Senate Honorary Speaker, Association of the Wallonia Women Council, and Coordinator of HOCRINT, International Association against Honour Crimes, Belgium
Annie Sugier, President, Ligue du Droit International des Femmes, France
Åsa Dahlström Heuser, Campaigner, Belgium
Auberger Michel, France
Bernice Dubois, Coordination Française pour le Lobby Européen des Femmes, France
Brigitte Allal, professeur de lettres, France
Catherine Auberger, Human Rights Campaigner, France
Catherine Deudon, Photographer, France
Chantal Crabère, Campaigner, France
Cherifa Kheddar, Presidente, l’association ” Djazairouna”, des Familles Victimes du Terrorisme Islamiste, Algeria
Christa Stolle, Terre des Femmes, Germany
Christiane Labarre, Women’s Rights Campaigner, Belgium
Christiane Mauchauffée, Women’s Rights Campaigner, France
Daniel Lardy, Primary School Teacher, France
Daniel Salvatore Schiffer, Philosopher, Writer, Promoter of the “Open Letter to the Iranian Authorities” to support Sakineh, Belgium
Daphné Pavia, Regards de Femmes, France
Dario Picciau, Director, EveryOne Group, Italy
David Pollock, President, European Humanist Federation, UK
Dennis Penaluna, President, Nottingham Secular Society, UK
Dominique Peignoux, Regards de Femmes Ile de France, Vice President, Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneurm, France
Ed Buckner, Board Member, American Atheists, USA
Eli Vieira, President, Secular Humanist League of Brazil, Brazil
Elizabeth Sidney, OBE, Chair, Women Worldwide Advancing Freedom and Equality, UK
Eloise Power, Doughty Street Chambers, UK
Fabio Patronelli, Artist, EveryOne Group, Italy
Francis FitzGibbon QC, Doughty Street Chambers, UK
G. R. Joly, Women’s Rights Campaigner, France
Georges Delpech, Campaigner, France
Ghulam Mustafa Lakho, Advocate High Court of Sindh, Pakistan
Giti Thadani, Writer and Filmmaker, India
Glenys Robinson, Writer, EveryOne Group, Italy
Gudrun Schyman, Spokesperson, Swedish political party Feminist Initiative and elected member of the local parliament in Simrishamn, Sweden
Harold Kroto, FRS, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, USA
Henry Page, UK
Hope Knutsson, President, Sidmennt the Icelandic Ethical Humanist Association, Iceland
Huguette Chomski Magnis, President, Mouvement Pour la Paix et Contre le Terrorisme, France
Ibn Warraq, Author, USA
Iza Desperak, Poland
Jacqueline Pelerins, France
Jaya Gopal, Coordinator, International Committee to Protect Freethinkers, India
Joëlle Wiels, Research Director, CNRS, France
Josette Vial, Lyon Association Regards de Femmes , France
Katarzyna Kopystyńska, Democratic Union of Women and Federation Polish Women’s Lobby, Poland
Katarzyna Zwolak, Women Space Foundation, Poland
Laura Dubinsky, Barrister, Doughty Street Chambers, UK
Laura Guidetti, President, Marea Association, Italy
Leo Igwe, Executive Director, Nigerian Humanist Movement, Nigeria
Liisa Rantalaiho, University of Tampere, Finland
Lydie Err, MP, Belgium
Manouchehr Ganji, Human Rights Campaigner, USA
Maria Calderar, EveryOne Group, Italy
Maria Rohaly, Mission Free Iran, USA
Marie-Christine Exsteyl, Vice-Présidente, Groupement Belge de la Porte Ouverte pour la défense économique de la travailleuse, Belgium
Marie-Hélène Clochard, Women’s Rights Campaigner, France
Marieme Helie Lucas, Founder of Women Living Under Muslim Laws and Secularism Is A Women’s Issue, France
Matteo Pegoraro, Writer, EveryOne Group, Italy
Michael Schmidt-Salomon, Philosopher and Spokesperson, Giordano Bruno Foundation, Germany
Michèle Vianès, Présidente, Regards de Femmes, France
Mireille Popelin, Feminist and Secularist, France
Monica Lanfranco, Director, Marea Feminist Review, Italy
Nazanin Afshin-Jam, President, Stop Child Executions, Canada
Nina Sankari, President, European Feminist Initiative, Poland
Nordine Ghassan, UK
Olga Rémy, Member, HOCRINT, Belgium
P. Mazelpeux, Psychologue à l’association Regards de Femmes Lyon
Pascaline Segard, Women’s Rights Campaigner, France
Pedro Almeida, General Director, Secular Humanist League of Brazil, Brazil
Peter Tatchell, Human Rights Campaigner, UK
Pragna Patel, Chair, Southall Black Sisters, UK
Rahila Gupta, Women’s Rights Campaigner, UK
Richard Dawkins, Scientist and Author, UK
Roberto Malini, Writer, EveryOne Group, Italy
Roy Speckhardt, Executive Director, American Humanist Association, USA
Russell Blackford, Philosopher, Australia
Shahla Abghari, Women’s Rights Campaigner, USA
Siba Shakib, Author and Filmmaker, USA
Sonja Eggerickx, President, International Humanist Ethical Union, UK and President, Unie Vrijzinnige Verenigingen, Belgium
Steed Gamero, Photographer, EveryOne Group, Italy
Sylviane Tropper, France
Tasneem Khalil, Editor, Independent World Report, Sweden
Terry Sanderson, President, National Secular Society, UK
Tullio Florio, Italy
Udo Schuklenk, Professor of Philosophy and Ontario Research Chair in Bioethic, Canada
Valérie Surville, Campaigner, France
Venita Popovic and Nermin Sarajlic, Zenicke Sveske journal, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Viviane Teitelbaum, MP and President of the Council of Women, Belgium
Ahmadinejad: stop the stoning once and for all. Release Ashtiani, her son and his lawyer.
the government of iran is a government against humanrights! every year about 300 people have to die on the strang. the victims are mainly kurds. they have to die because of their fight for freedom and democracy for their people!! this has to end immidiately!!!
release the 4 men and Sakineh right NOW!
there is absolutely NO reason to keep them arrested at all!
would those judges treat their own mom the same way as well? i sure hope not!
RELEASE THEM4 MEN AND SAKINEH NOW!
Free them and open your mind to respect for life
I wrote an article on this too.. you can link back to me if you wish.. PLease sign the petition to free sakineh.. http://ashfaqblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/bloggers-unite-for-sakineh.html
Stoning is a cruel bestial death penalty for innocent girls and women in Islamic countries, it is a modern medieval hunting, like the average age of the witch craze. We should not tolerate such as honor killings, stoning and genital mutilation of girls, this is not a religion or tradition, that’s brutal torture and brutal murder! If the Islam calls for tolerance from us, the Imans should explain us the many calls for killing and raping of non-believers even here in Europe, what has that to do with tolerance and religion. Finally stops these human rights violations, that racism and sexism words of some Islamic people, which the Islam sales us in Europe as a tradition and religion. Stops at last these words, we would be racists, if we are simultaneously threatened with terrorist acts meanwhile we give all Muslims worldwide a polite and warm welcome in our countries!
Ainda hei de ver os lideres religiosos e políticos do Irã sentados no banco de réus da Corte Penal Internacional em Haia por crimes cometidos contra seu próprio povo.
João Agne-Eletricista e cidadão do Mundo.
Eu ainda hei de ver os lideres religiosos e políticos iranianos sentados no banco dos réus na Corte Penal Internacional em Haia por crimes cometidos contra seu próprio povo
Learning Support Assistant, UK
Roald Landheer – the Netherlands
University law student, UK
This regime shows no regard for this woman’s human right to life,
they blatantly disregard the law and we DO NOT respect them!
Give this woman her freedom back now and release her son and their lawyer immediately!
Iran needs to wake up as it will loose its place in the international community if it continues to persecute its own people in this way, it is barbaric.
This regime does not respect human life or human rights and we do NOT respect the regime!
Give this woman, her son and their lawyers their freedom and their lives back NOW!
This bronze age regime MUST be challenged. Human rights come first not ideas formed from bronze age myths.
It is unbelievable that still in this time men use their power against women bij stoning them. No equality, no justice. It’s really horrible.
Hayden McBrydie
Student at Canterbury University,
New Zealand
these four people must release now,stop stoning now!
glenrothes scotland
these four people must release immediately,stop stoning now…
glenrothes scotland
High School Teacher, Taiwan
I’m speechless that this could be happening to anyone. My prayers go out to Sakineh, her son and lawyer.
I signed the petition. However, I would rather live in Iran than in North Korea. If I could overthrow one government in the whole world it would be King Jong Il’s. What does self-admitted Communist, Maryam Namazie, have to say about the atrocities North Korea is committing e.g. torpedoing a South Korean vessel? INVADE NORTH KOREA!!!
I add my voice to those committed to justice and human rights, calling for the Iranian government to release Sakineh, her son, her lawyer and the journalists, and to immediately cease the practices of torture and stoning, which are contrary to all international standards of fundamental human rights.
The Islamic Republic of Iran does not conform to the internationally accepted norms of civilized behaviour.
No more stoning to death, no more hanging, no more death penalty !
Release the 4 people immediately !
No crime was committed by the lawyer or the journalists or the family. Therefore the arrests were in order to intimidate them. This will not enhance the standing of the Islamic republic of Iran. Please release them now
Al you need is love! No Stoning!
These people have committed no crime by any human standards. Please recognise that this issue will not go away. Please accept that it is time now to reform your system of justice in Iran.
Such brutal behaviour by the Iranian government will not be tolerated. This is 2010 when society is more civilised and humane.
IT Consultant, UK
Stoning is stone-age barbarity.
IT Consultant, UK
Stoning is stone-age barbarism.
Where is the civilization of the Western world?
Where are the feminists?
Why do we allow 7th century based barbaric practices in countries and allow these countries to be part of the UN?
Where is the UN and their stand on human rights?
Where are our politicians, our press and our teachers – don’t they know the truth?
Stop the Stoning. Release Sakineh now.
Please add my details as I pledge my full support
Hasan Jamil, Finance Professional, Pakistan
Student, International Relations; Middle Eastern/Western Relations
Technical Coordinator, Icon Integration
Mikail Barron, student, USA
So many people here have made such elegant statements…. All I can do is add my voice to theirs in demanding the release of Sakineh Mohammadi, her son Sajjad Ghaderzadeh, lawyer Houtan Kian, and the unnamed German reporter and photographer. The actions of the Iranian government as evidenced by its treatment of these people are a travesty of justice. Stoning is a monstrous practice and has no place in *any* society.
Anna Thoroddsen , Iceland
We demand that Ashtiani, her son, Sajjad Ghaderzadeh, her lawyer, Houtan Kian, and the two journalists be released. We are outraged by the actions of the Iranian government against their citizens. Please release the innocents now. Your country will not be bettered by injustice. Release these innocents now!
Student – England
Paul Lawrence Grundy, UK.
I am appalled to hear about the arrest of Sakhines son, lawyer and the journalists interviewing them! This way of serving justice isnt worthy of a modern society or any educated society at all.
Laila Hedlund, human, mother of five and fil. kand. psychology, Sweden
Petroleum Engineer, UK.
I worked in Iran in 1978. It is deeply disturbing to see how the current regime treats the people of Iran.
Petroleum Engineer. UK.
I worked in Iran in 1978. It is deplorable and deeply disturbing to see how the current regime treats the people of Iran.
barbaric methods to keep the corrupt regime in control
MuST EnD NOW
Avec un tel comportement envers Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, la République Islamique d’Iran bafoue les principes fondamentaux d’une république.
Tom Pengelly, Student, UK
Biologist, Denmark
So much for Islam being a religion of peace! Shudder to think what it SHOULD be called, but peaceful is NOT one of them.
They would like to be thought of as a civilised society, with a wonderful heritage, but how can we accept themas such when they behqve in this way!
I add my voice to this letter in demanding the release of those you hold against their will
RC, Glasgow Scotland, Supporter of Iranain Solidarity & The Free Sakineh campaign.
HQ Co-ordinator, The Anti Injustice Movement.
I have been watching this sorry situation for many months. No matter what Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani has been accused of, her surviving family believe that she is innocent and want her freed to live with them. If her government executes her it will be responsible for orphaning her children. Yes, they are adults but if their mother dies, they are doubly bereaved.
That her son who has worked so hard to free his mother, using all legal means available to him, has now been arrested along with the lawyer and two journalists and all have been ‘disappeared’ is reprehensible. They must ‘reappear’ at once and be released, if the courts and police of the Islamic Republic of Iran are to retain any semblance of decency.
I do not know enough about the present government of Iran to lay any special blame for this dreadful situation upon it. Mistakes can be and have been made by police and courts in any country, including mine (Canada). However, when a case like Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani’s becomes known around the world, when thousands of people write letters of support for her, and demonstrations are held in front of Iranian embassies in dozens of countries, it would be both wise and merciful for her government to reconsider her case.
More than that, I am appalled that any country which claims to follow the law of a merciful and loving Creator could at the same time continue to execute its citizens, regardless of what they may be said to have done, in any manner whatsoever. Surely, it is time and past time for an end to state sanctioned executions.
I will add that a country such as the Islamic Republic of Iran with its well-known love for the One who gave every person the gift of life is exactly the country to lead this suffering world toward a future of mercy and forgiveness. This is a gift, an opportunity not to be missed. My prayers for the missing, the imprisoned woman and for those who hold their lives in their hands.
Please release all detainess threatened with stoning and anyone connected with these cases immediately. This is shameful behaviour by the Iranian authorities.
if they collect enough people maybe the rest of the world will cower and cave in to their oppression let the journalists, hikers, lawyer, son free
hold a tribunal to determine if sakineh’s indeed culpable of any wrongdoing if so let her punishment fit the crime as if she were one of their family members maybe she can become a positive role model of what not to do and help others avoid her fate get to the truth and handle it
Teacher, Italy
Artist, Canada.
It’s become clear that a majority of the Iranian citizens want a secular government. What these vindictive idiots hope to gain by scrambling for these acts of cruelty, especially that we can all see through, is beyond me. When they’re out, they’ll be out and they’ll be the hunted who fear for their lives. How can they not see this?
just leave these people in peace.
let them choose their way.
have to make peace with ourselves.
It does Islam and the Islamic Republic no honour to treat an unfortunate woman and her supporters in this cruel fasion. Please release them all and restore the good name of Iran.
Iran needs to bring itself in line with the rest of the civilised world, if it wants to be part of it. This is the 21st century, not the 13th. There is no room in the global community for such ignorance and barbarism.
we should be civilized, shouldn’t we? free Sakineh. stop stoning. stop the death penalties in general.
I tried to write to the Iranian embassies in rome and milan … the mail was rejected by the system several times. what is it? afraid of seing how much protest there is related to this issue?
the Iranian governement should feel ashamed.
I condemn the Islamic Republic of Iran for the arrests and call for the immediate release of the four. I also demand the release of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani and an end to stoning and execution. Support for stoning does incalculable harm to the reputation of Islam and Iran. in today’s world.
Research Officer, UnionsWA
We can’t let this outrage go!! Sajjad may have sacrificed his own life for his mother and for justice. How can such a regime respond to international concern about their nuclear weapons ambitions — by laughing, that’s how!!
What will happen when they have the power to silence all of us by threats and greater power, as they do now to Sakineh, Sajjad, and the two German journalists?
Defending Sakineh, Sajjad, and the two German journalists must continue!
Put your self in her place.
Then, take your decision.
It is time for all true feminists and human rights supporters to finally take a stand against Islamic barbarism. We must stop tip-toeing around and finally say NO to all such tyrannical and inhumane regimes. Where is the outcry?!
I support the release of these people
Holm Ay, Hamburg, Germany
Stop stoning now – and all other barbaric violations of basic Human Rights!
Holm Ay, Hamburg, Germany
Daniel Schealler, Software Developer, New Zealand
How are we even having this conversation in this day and age?
Imagine it: It’s hot. You’ve been wrapped in a cloth sack, you can’t see, you can barely breathe. You’ve been buried up to your neck in the ground, your hands bound behind your back. You can’t move.
You know the stone is going to come – but not when, and not where.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, it hits you. Pain blossoms up, blood gushes out of the wound. You can hear bone snap. But you’re not dead. No. Not dead yet. The throwers are commanded to use stones large enough to hurt and injure, but not large enough to kill quickly.
Then the next stone.
And the next.
And the next.
You scream in pain and agony. You beg for mercy, for a quick death. But it isn’t forthcoming.
As you open your mouth to scream, a stone hits you in the mouth. Your teeth shatter, and you cough and choke on your own blood.
Another stone strikes you in your eye – you can feel blood and jelly running down your bruised and broken face.
THIS IS INTOLERABLE!
How can a mob of people – any mob of people – slowly torture another human being to death?
They’re threatening to torture a woman to death
How can anyone calmly plan for a human being to be slowly tortured to death?
How can anyone actually do it? How can someone show up to an execution like this, and calmly, carefully select an appropriately sized stone to be as torturous as possible to the helpless victim? And how can they actually throw?
It’s madness.
The system is barbaric and inhuman. Free Sakineh and others now. Iran must come in to the 21st century.
If iran wants to be considered a civilized country and be respected by the rest of the world it MUST STOP imprisoning people at will, especially innocent women. I implore you to release Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani; her son, Sajjad Ghaderzadeh; her lawyer, Houtan Kian, and the German photographer and journalist.
On behalf of 90+ members of Solent Feminist Network
Please release all those mentioned above immediately
Please stop this barbaric practise – this is not what God would want. Peace, love and harmony is the way forward.
France
Jey Davis, Health Counsellor, UK
Leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran please learn, remember and practice the Golden Rule.
I beseech the government of Iran to grant clemency to all being imprisoned.
I beseech the government of Iran to grant clemency to all who are being held.
Stop stoning, put an end to injustice, release the innocents!
Taranu Bogdan, student, Romania
Hello, im eddie and im thirteen from the UK, but even i have the maturity to know when a woman condemned to be stoned is the most disgraceful act ever to come across my ears so i join this crusade to ban the act of stoning so i hope in others reading this this petition can help us bring this injustice of people’s rights to an end
thank you for reading and hopefully helping me with this cause
Please stop this barbaric practice. We live in the 21st century, not in the middle ages. If the countries who still carry out these atrocities want to be taken seriously with the rest of the civilised world they must stop. The laws that allow such hideous sentences are outdated, misogynist and set way back in times of oppression and uncivilised behaviour.
Student at Stockholm University
I support the open letter to the Islamic Republic of Iran and implore the Iranian Government to re-examine their policy of stoning and execution and urge them to release Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, her son and lawyers forthwith.
A cruel dictatorship does not an Islamic Republic make! Let God be the judge of people’s morals not a judgemental and cruel pseudo Islamic regime which purports to do God’s work. An immoral regime which controls by punishing and silencing its people is extremely unIslamic.
Let he who is without sin cast the first stone!
No to the stoning, the hanging and anyother state-killing.
I support on the speech-freedom.
Please stop such cruelty!
Paschalis Mirmigakis, Computer Science Teacher, Greece
Ben Kerr, teacher uk
You are wrong if you believe that all of Islam behaves this way…
BUT… Muslims and Islamic countries need to announce when fellow Muslims have institutions of repression and murder… If Islam is to become legitimate then its followers must renounce when something is “non-Islamic”… If there are good Muslims (and there are) then they must stand up and tell the world and other Muslims what is not acceptable…
Stoning a woman is BARBARIC… Stoning a woman is a left-over practice from the 7th century and this practice should be banned from earth…
add my name to this list of people calling for the Iranian government to release Sakineh, her son, her lawyer and the journalists, and to stop the unhuman practising of stoning.
add my name to this list of people calling for the Iranian government to release Sakineh, her son, her lawyer and the journalists, and stop practising stoning
Iran’s politicians, clergy and others in power must learn to allow the Iranian people the basic freedoms available in the civilized countries of the world. Iran, once a great civilization is losing all that was built up over generations and will fall into a state of poverty and despair otherwise.
Luisa Brehm
ethnologist and human rights activist
Lisbon, Portugal
It is essential that the culture of Islam rid itself of barbaric mediaeval practices if it is to take part in modern global socio-political interactions. All Muslims and ex-Muslims I have encountered on the scienific networks with which I am familiar, as a Fellow of the Institute of Physics, are highly embarassed by this type of cultural backwardness exhibited in some States where Islam is dominant. No religious community should ‘own’ a State and claim to dictate its laws. This holds also for Israel. Let us have secular democracy in Iran, Palestine, in all Middle East Staes, and in the world generally.
Eli Vieira, president, The Secular Humanist League of Brazil, Porto Alegre, Brazil
Another example of the problems caused when religion and state are intertwined.
Solutions Consultant, Dubai
Free her today!
End these medieval theocratic abominations NOW
Town Planner UK
If this is where religion leads it makes me glad to be a Humanist.
Retired management consultant, ARCS, B.Sc., FIBC, CMC
Scientist, Australia
I cannot believe this happens in the world in 2010. Iran, come out of the dark ages.
I would like to add my name to this list of people calling for the Iranian government to release Sakineh, her son, her lawyer and the journalists, and to cease in the oppressive practices of torturing, and stoning.
Sandra Ruttan
Canada
Entrepreneur, graduate student, USA
FREE SAKINEH ASHTIANI NOW!!!
student, NYC
scientist, Germany
Manager, Prague, Czech Republic
PhD fellow, Aalborg University, Denmark.
United Kingdom
I support the letter, and in particular my belief is that the state should be internationally condemned for attempting to perform manslaughter, and continued harrasment against Sakineh and her children – when it has already been stated that there is evidence that another person was involved for the murder of her husband. Therefore it is criminal for the individuals within the Iranian state, to pose as authorities of justice, by continuing to harrass Sakineh and her family members when they have already suffered enough due to the death of the father. I would consider the harrassment and threat of manslaughter of Sakineh by the state, in particular to be criminally negligent towards the welfare of the children, who are Sakineh’s dependents, and therefore their lives depend on the welfare of their mother, in particular after their father is already deceased.
Therefore I would consider the individuals who are continuing to harrass and threaten Sakineh with manslaughter, and to force her into positions to make false statements to justify their actions as illegal torture and a crime against not only Sakineh, but also against her children, and therefore their actions are unrepresentative of the greater good of the welfare of the citizens of the Iranian public, whose duty it is theirs to represent.
Forcing false confessions under torture, is contemptible and does not further the purposes of justice.
For the indivudals who claim to represent the greater good of the people of Iran represented within the state to continue to neglect their duty to pursue the persons who have instead been found to have been responsible for the manslaughter of Sakineh’s husband therefore are criminal.
For those members of the state to continue to harrass and threaten Sakineh, and to arrest and harrass her children, and their lawyer, further shows contempt of true justice, and contempt for the representation of true justice to respect the wishes of the children.
Since it is the father of the children who has died, it is therefore only the responsibility of the state to respect the wishes of the children. Therefore for the state to seek to condemn Sakineh against their wishes and for the state to arrest and detain the children, and their lawyer, when they are innocent, therefore means that the members of the state, who have done so, are therefore performing crimes against the children which go completely against the principles of justice, which should be to represent the greater needs of the family and in particular Sakineh’s children.
I give my total support to the above letter
I give support to the above letter and assuming the govt. of Iran is a signatory to the Declaration of Human Rights, as a member of the UN I call on Iran to honour its obligations to uphold human rights in every respect.
Elena Miles, PhD student, London.
I fully suppost this petition and condemn the actions of the judicail system of Iran which victimises women and people working for human rights in Iran
Retired teacher
How can we do this to each other?
The Kingdom of the Netherlands.
A country which is a member of the United Nations should respect the basic rights of its citizens and of the citizens of other countries which are members of the United Nations. These rights include freedom of expression and the right to a free and fair legal process in case of violation of the law.
Therefore, the Islamic Republic of Iran should release immediately Ghaderzadeh Sajjad, Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani’s son, and his lawyer, Houtan Kian, a journalist and photographer Germantown, and give Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani a fair process and stop immediately the brute executions of death by stoning!
The Iranian regime has behaved in a manner which is barbaric and primitive. It is therefore fair for the non-Islamic world to view Iran as a barbaric and primitive nation.
The Netherlands,
A country which is a full member of the United Nations should accordingly up held the basic human rights of its citizens and citizens of other UN members.
Therefore I call upon the leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran to free immediately Sajjad Ghaderzadeh, Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani’s son, the lawyer, Houtan Kian, and the German journalist and the photographer!
Moreover, the Islamic Republic of Iran should give Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani a fair trial, and stop the brute executions of its citizens by death by stoning.
UK
I wish to add my signature in support of this letter and the ongoing campaign to release Sakineh, and now her son, lawyer and the two journalists.
I support the letter.
Richard Norman
Emeritus Professor of Moral Philosophy
University of Kent, UK
Student UK
Awful!
Turkey- İstanbul
This is very shameful and barbaric. God is always merciful.
Turkey- İstanbul
This is very shameful and barbaric. God is always merciful.
psychologist & project manager, Vienna
We, Norwegian Humanist Youth, wil support this campaign.
Best of luck with the campaign!
Dan-Raoul Husebø Miranda, President of Norwegian Humanist Youth
EHF Board – International UAAR (Italy)
Ben Woodward, Web Professional, UK.
retired IT Architect, The Netherlands
manager, Linz, Austria
trainer, Linz, Austria
Vilnius, Lithuania
Iran, one the one hand you wish to be taken seriously by the world and be seen as a modern republic and not a country of barbaric primatives. On the other hand, you intend to bury a woman up to her waist and throw rocks at her until she dies whilst silencing all dissent by state action.
The conditions are mutually exclusive. It would appear you have a choice to make.
the hague, the netherlands.
this is the home of the international court of justice – where the iranian regime should stand trial !
poet, documentary film maker, independent researcher of holocaust, mother, grandmother, sending prayers to free innocent victims…… from Israel.
Please release the prisoners and dismiss the stoning.
Immediately release of Sakineh, her son, lawyer and two journalists
Organization : Society for Promotion of Scientific Temper (SPST), Visakhapatnam, India
Immediately release Sakineh, her son, lawyer and two journalists
psychologist and writer, USA
I have made up my mind that if there is a God, he will be merciful to the merciful. Upon that rock I stand. That he will not torture the forgiving. Upon that rock I stand. That every man should be true to himself, and that there is no world, no star in which honesty is a crime. Upon that rock I stand. –Robert Ingersoll, 1880.
Writer, translater, conference interpreter – Denmark
Student, Sikh
The goal of religion is be become more like God. Remember God is forever merciful. So why must you hate so much.
College student
USA
This is utterly shameful! The international community has spoken: this is wrong and it needs to be stopped immediately.
Stoning is a remnant of barbarism; no one should die in such a way, and to arrest those advocating for this woman’s right to freedom is cowardly.
Physicist, Insitute of Nuclear Physics, Krakow, Poland
Leaders of Iran, when a state starts arresting people for disagreeing with its policies, for legally representing a person accused of a crime, for criticizing the justice system, or for communicating these disagreements, it has admitted that it does not care about morality or justice. If Sakineh was actually guilty, and stoning, hanging, and any other form of execution were actually acceptable, you’d have no need to silence these people. That her son, lawyer, and journalists interviewing them were attacked and detained proves you know what you’re doing is wrong. I appeal not just to any ambition you may have of being respected in the world, but to your conscience and better nature to end this travesty of justice, release these four wrongfully arrested people, and at the very least grant Sakineh clemency.
Leonard Andrew Spencer, Student, Australia
Please set free Sajjad Ghaderzadeh, Houtan Kian, his lawyer, the German journalist, and the photographer that were arrested on October 10, 2010. Also release Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani. Please set a good example to the world by releasing these 5 people as soon as possible. Show some compassion for a change. You are only making yourselves look worse as time goes by. There is not a good reason to be holding these people. so please I implore you to release them.
The whole world condemns the actions of the Iranian government in this matter. I urge the government of Iran to free all five people immediately. Even if Sakineh committed adultery, she has already more than paid the penalty for it.
I pray this insanity ends soon. Release them and let’s all live in peace.
I implore the Islamic Republic of Iran to immediately release Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani. As well as Sajjad Ghaderzadeh, Houtan Kian, and the German journalist and photographer that were arrested Oct 10, 2010.
I would also urge the Islamic Republic of Iran to condemn and end the barbaric practice of stoning.
Rex Lisman
Photographer
U.S.A.
guadalupe, puerto rico, writer
Iran: the world cannot respect you, if your government does not respect its people. Abolish stoning. Stop this barbaric punisment.
The world demands the inmediate release of Sakineh, her son, lawyer and two journalists.
Lawyer; United States
I support this open letter. This certainly is not the kind of behaviour that should be condoned in the 21st century – we should be beyond such barbarism and oppression.
This must not happen.
Mumbai – India
Iran, where is your compassion? Let mercy season justice.
Student, University of Idaho
stop stoning . This is the most uncivilized law in the world .
Please release all four prisoners being held!
believer in freedom, U.S.A.
I deplore the usage of such violent means, which are twisted ideologies of the Islamic faith. I add my support and voice to this open letter.
University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
I call on the government of Iraq to release Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani and the others recently arrested. The world is watching and waiting for Iraq to proceed with the peaceful release of these individuals.
The world is waiting for Iran to release Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani and now her son, lawyer, and journalists. The world is looking to Iran to act with civility and reason.
Free Sakineh, Free Sajjad, Free Kian!! Freedom for all political prisoners!! Azadi!!
I support the open letter and call on the Iranian Regime to dismiss all charges against Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani and to release her immediately.
I also demand the promt release of Sajjad Ghaderzadeh, Houtan Kian, the German journalist and the photographer by the Iranian authorities.
Artist, Germany
I echo the comments of Karen Bos
These arrests are the latest outrageous violations of internationally recognized human rights. The callous disregard for Sakineh Ashtiani, her son and lawyer and supportive journalistsand are an indictment of Iran and the totalitarian religion which empowers it. I add my voice to those who are demanding the release of all these prisoners, and an end to brutality.
Let them be free.
Tyrants live with the constant fear that they will be deposed, and subsequently turn to the very brutality for which they ought to be ousted.
Only with political and civil liberty for its people can Iran prosper.
Writer, USA
Free Sakineh, Free Sajjad, Free Kian! Free all political prisoners!
end barbaric bronze age ideology and violence.
Mechanical engineering student
Canada
We condemn this outrage and urge the Iranian regime to reconsider their decision. This must stop. Please act now.
Milano, Italia.
Member of the Board – ArciLesbica Zami
Listen, bro. Stoning is NOT awesome. Neither is arresting innocent people for trying to save people from being murdered. It’s just not the way civilized people roll, okay? So cut it out.
Tell you what, you stop being total douchebags, and the world will stop hating on you. Good deal, ain’t it?
Stoning, hanging, gassing, all capital punishment is barbaric and murderous. Release these four and stop the killing!
Liberation pour tous!
Mére de famille
France
Please release everyone, especially Sakine and her son and lawyer. Let the world know that Iran is a civilized country by letting them all go free.
In the 21st century there is no longer a justification for the enactment of barbaric laws and practices from the dark ages.
Why is the leadership of the Islamic Peoples Republic of Iran so afraid of Mrs Ashtiani?
Why do the leaders of the republic allow the repression of women? Is it fear?
No more killing. It has to stop. Compassion. Please.
No belief system, mo tradition, no history and no culture abrogates human rights
Please release the four people who have been detained at once.
Do you consider yourself good people?
It’s time to replace dogma with reason…barbarity with civility.
Business owner / roof plumber
Melbourne Victoria Australia
The Iranian government and president at large are responsible whatever this will cause, and their silence is an admittance of the matter. But we won’t stone them!
Please, stop capita punishment anywhere in the world.
Immediate freedom for Sakineh, her son and her lawyer.
Paola Ugliano, Programmer, italy
student, Poland
Release the 4 and stop the stoning no one has a right to kill another human, the WORLD is watching! IRAN
Nelly Kazemian, Human Rights Activist, The Netherlands
I urge for the articles of human rights to be followed and addressed as well as demand the release of these innocent people. I ask for world leaders and mass media to bring the worlds attention to the situation of human rights in Iran and the particular case of Sakineh. Everyone has the right to live a worthy life.
Sincerely
Nelly
The justice will be done not by any government of the world but by Iranian People themselves. So, please just give your support to them and not any other measures other governments are preparing to make for the future of Iran. Iranian people are in the process of humane revolution for a humane state. They are fighting the regime by daily basis. Supports all those reporters go to Iran to help. They are what we have to support the most.
Editor, UK
The acts of the Iranian tyrants in government are beneath contempt. They have no intention of acting in a humane manner which they obviously see as a weakness, rather than the strength of those who have compassion and integrity
I also call for the release of these people.
Marion Pitman
Bookseller.
United States
Classical Musician
Electronic Engineer, various organizations in Russia/France/Japan/Norway
Teacher, England
it has been so many thing hapened since1980 in Iran by this rejim and we must to stop those kind of so harrabol thing to safe her or any one will happen,
peace for all,
Logistics officer, Ireland
LONDON FIRE BRIGADE
What a tragic situation. The Gestapo could not have behaved worse, and Kafka could not have done better in describing the bizarre and horrific situation in which Iran finds itself. And this disgusting little creep Amajinidad has the brass neck to call America ‘Great Satan’ and Britain ‘Little Satan’, (pots and kettles spring to mind) while he is in charge of a latter day SAVAK. But I am probably doing Iran’s old secret-police a disservice. Has it really ever been worse for the people of Iran? What a truly terrible state for Iran’s population to have to endure, and what an indisputably disgusting head of state.
And we are supposed to be in the 21st Century. I despair.
A tenner is on its way into the fund. Keep up the good work.
I support the concerns and principles of this letter. I urge the state of Iran and all its institutions to free its political prisoners.
I totally support the concerns and principles of this letter.
Stop executing of political prisoners & human being life
Down with Imperialists mullahs regime in Iran
Nobody should be stoned to death.
Nobody should be executed for adultery.
There is no evidence that Sakineh is guilty of ANY of the trumped-up charges, so she should not be punished at all.
The other four people have not even been charged with a crime, so they should be released immediately and unconditionally.
If the Iranian government cannot grasp this, Iran needs a new government – one not dominated by a false prophet who never had the word of God.
Please add me to the letter.
The behavior of the iranian regime is totally unacceptable!!
Malmö,Sweden
Writer, State College, PA, USA
Retired physician and humanist. London UK.
I agree totally. Abolish this and all other cruel and barbaric punishments.
I wish I had more to say, but I am in favor of releasing this party from the confines of the prison. And releasing this society of its binding and prehistoric laws against humanity.
Oulu, Finland.
Lillebælt University, Denmark
Musician, composer, artist, piano technician, board member of Fylkingen, Stockholm, sweden.
Member of the human species – no title, no important position, just one of countless millions of ordinary citizens worldwide who are appalled at this barbaric, unjustified and unjustifiable sentence.
Investment Advisor – Retired
Canada
I support this letter in its entirety.
Iran is making itself hated around the world for its complete disregard for the principles of Human Rights.
Retired Librarian, Canada
Student, Harvard University
Name:Jiri Kytka
Profession: construction worker
Country: Ireland
The “prophet” Mohammed was only able to enforce his “Allah” scam by killing those who challenged him. So it’s rather authentic of this Islamic regime to be inclined to doing the same. The triumph of brute force over decency and honesty. That’s why all the Islam-dominated countries are so all-round backwards and so many of their inhabitants prefer to leave to sponge off Dar ul Harb instead.
Primitive justice!
This barbarism has to stop
Please add my name.
Sheila Halpin
Montreal, Quebec
The Mullah’s in Iran are barbarians. Human rights are universal. Stoning is so 7th century. Release Sakineh, her son, her attorney and the other journalist and show the world that Iran believes in human rights.
artist sheffield uk
If asked God would say no to imprisoning and persecuting defenceless people in the manner proposed.
IT Specialist, Polnad
Artist, Healer, Teacher. Kansas, United States of America.
I am currently enmeshed in the great struggle which my nation faces. This is a moment of change and growth for us- or abject failure and collapse if the status quo continues. I and many like me are arguing for Humanity and Spirit to triumph over the entrenched selfish powers who have had control for far too long.
In the wake of the Bush administration’s depredations both in the Middle East and upon our Constitution, my countrymen and I find ourselves questioning and arguing about the roles of government, the “Empire” of this nation, the ideas behind recent political behaviors, and the manic attacks of the corporatist Right upon the rights of human beings all over the world.
Given the huge changes we face, we question those who would position us, without questioning, as “Good Guys”, and Iran and others as “Axis of Evil” powers. We seek to be honest and fair in our self-estimation and regrowth.
After all, an ideal is only as good as its results in fact.
In the face of this effort to change the heart of our own nation, it is disheartening to those of us who ache for peace to see this horrifying display by the government of Iran. You claim to serve your version of The Divine while running the political system there, but the barbarism you display is not of any Creator Divine known to Humanity.
What you do to this woman and her family is far closer to an echo of Moloch, and it is not the voice of the Divine that I hear when I listen to their voices crying out for justice.
Those of us in the process of reclaiming our Democracy, when we hear such stories, are forced to acknowledge that perhaps Bush and Cheney, in all of their fallacies, greed, and stubborn blindness, were not so wrong about the “Axis of Evil” that Iran supposedly inhabited.
Some quotes about tyranny, which is, in my view, what the Iranian government is displaying in this instance:
A police state finds that it cannot command the grain to grow.
~John F. Kennedy
I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.
~Thomas Jefferson
In every tyrant’s heart there springs in the end this poison, that he cannot trust a friend.
~Aeschylus
Kings will be tyrants from policy, when subjects are rebels from principle.
~Edmund Burke
No government power can be abused long. Mankind will not bear it. There is a remedy in human nature against tyranny, that will keep us safe under every form of government.
~Samuel Johnson
No totalitarians, no wars, no fears, famines or perils of any kind can really break a man’s spirit until he breaks it himself by surrendering. Tyranny has many dread powers, but not the power to rule the spirit.
~Edgar Sheffield Brightman
Tyranny and anarchy are never far apart.
~Jeremy Bentham
And pay special attention to this one:
Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God.
~Thomas Jefferson
I beg you to consider carefully exactly who is being served both by condemning this woman to such a miserable barbaric ending, and by “disappearing” her family and lawyers rather than admit the initial wrong.
Sincerely,
~Jennifer Hathaway
Iran and its behavior only proves again that its misdirected Muslim government is a medieval uncivilized, unjust group of vile misogynists and haters of humanity more interested in deploying their power than in behaving in an ethical and humane way. Justice and decency are words they do not understand, and their vicious self-serving behavior marks them as nothing more than the usual religious criminals that questionable faith seems to spawn.
Graphic Designer, England
Project Analyst
United States
Wir werden nicht aufhören bis Sakine, ihren Sohn und alle andere Gefangenen freigelassen werden.
N i e d e r mit dem islamischen barbarischen Regime.
I add my support to this letter.
Pat Eggleton
Teacher and writer, Ragusa, Italy.
Iran! What has happened to you?
You are a disgrace.
Stoning women to death? Grow up!
I support the sentiments in this letter. Please release these people immediately!
I totally support this letter.
The Netherlands
Location: Germany
I totally support this letter.
The Netherlands
the world sits and waits
as you deliberate
holding our breath
fearing for the fate of
sakineh , who is a woman
not a property or prize
not someone to
tormented not
someone t
be despised
and those who defend her
their courage we applaud
please release these
fine people
and your decency we will laud
namaste and peace
may all hate and bloodshed cease
may all living things rejoice
in a world of the
creator’s voice
Software Development Engineer, New Zealand
This latest act by the Iranian authorities to silence criticism of its regime, by violating the human rights of innocent parties and dictating the behaviour of the judicial process, just further reinforces how illegitimate & corrupt they truly are. Any state that believed that they were doing what was best for their country would not have to stoop so low to cling to power.
La lapidation est un acte barbare, sauvage, irrespectueux pour tout être vivant. Si l’homme est l’espèce dite la plus évoluée (CQFD), comment se fait-il qu’il se conduise avec autant de sauvagerie ? Comment se fait-il que les dirigeants des grandes puissances mondiales continuent de dialoguer avec un état où l’intolérance, la violence et le fanatisme sont les maitres mots ? Notre civilisation découle en grande partie de ce pays, berceau du croissant fertile. Il a été responsable de notre évolution notamment culturelle. Comment se peut-il qu’il régresse à un point tel que les seuls qualificatifs qui me viennent à l’esprit son ignominie et monstruosité. .
Donnons à Sakineh le droit à un jugement devant un jury respectueux des droits universels de l’Homme ; bannissons la lapidation !
I forgot…
French, archaeologist student.
Gillian and Barry Hayes
United Kingdom
Iraq[n] can never take its place on the world stage unless it abolishes the brutal treatment whether physical or psychological of its people. Everyone has a right to justice and equality wherever they live, whatever their leanings either religiously or politically.
They must show the world that they can deal fairly and honestly with its own people and visitors to its country.
Location: United States
The entire situation is deplorable. Sakineh’s sentence to death for charges of adultery, that the penalty is to be by stoning, that her son is now being persecuted for his love for his mother and his wish that she isn’t killed in this way, that those supporting her and him are being punished. This is barbaric and wrong on so many levels. My heart goes out to Sakineh and all others facing sentence of stoning to death and their families.
student, Poland
Poland
Both Ashtiani’s sentence and the harassment of her family and supporters by the state show an utter lack of respect for human life and human rights.
When will Iran drag itself out of the Dark Ages of religious cults, myths and superstitions and start respecting equality, human rights and JUSTICE?
STOP arresting innocent people
STOP stoning people
STOP executing people
STOP punishing people for nonsense ‘crimes’
RESPECT freedom of thought
RESPECT freedom of expression
It’s 2010, not the year 600… leave the myths and superstitions of ignorant tribesmen in the past and join the rest of humanity in the 21st century!!!
Democracy, human rights, equality and JUSTICE for ALL!
Situation is crazy. I support the demands above!
London, United Kingdom
Sweden
Yet another reason why law and government should be based on democracy, logic and reason, not the myths and superstitions of ancient tribal cults!
Shame on the Iranian theocracy!
Respect human rights, international law and JUSTICE!
STOP arresting innocent people
STOP stoning people – it’s barbaric and inhumane
STOP executing people for petty ‘crimes’
One FAIR and JUST law for ALL!
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
INSIDE SALES
I totally support the concerns and principles of this letter. Free the people, ALL of them. It is all our right to have human rights and all of our responsibility to demand it.
“Que celui qui n’a jamais péché lui jette la première pierre”. Innocente ou coupable, je ne sais pas. Ce que je sais, ce dont je suis certaine, c’est que la lapidation est un crime qui doit être jugé et condamné avec force par chacun. Sauver Shakineh est un pas dans ce sens – donc sauvons Shakineh.
The Netherlands
Stoning is barbaric, if decent Iranian people want to allow their country to descend into chaos then allowing this to happen will accelerate their own demise. If there are any humanitarians in Iran (and I know there are many) they need to stand up now and fight against this ridiculous ideology and in so doing create their own identities as civilised human beings.
I cannot believe in this century, the civilized countries of our world are being called upon to protect these people- for what?! They are human beings and do not deserve this treatment – very few do.
I hope the Iranian powers that be will stop this NOW so they can reclaim their respectability and proper place in the world order!!
At this present time, there is a distinct lack of dignity, human kindness and compassion in your country!
As one of the activist who has been fighting this barbaric regime for the last 31 years, I am so glad and happy that today around the world million’s of people demanding and and actively engaging one of our battle to free Sakineh and now her son, Lawyer, and 2 journalist. I am sure with the help of you we can put an end to this fanatic and fascist regime once for all.
Down with the Regime of Stoning, long live freedom and Equality
M.Sc. and a mother, Finland
You must free innocent Sakineh Mohammad Ashtiani, her faithful son and all the other innocent people in your jales that only your totalitarian regime regard as “quilty” with no respect for basic human ritghts. YOU HAVE SIGNED THE INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS AGREEMENT.
I am appalled and dismayed
I am appalled and totally dismayed by human nature.
Social Worker, USA
No one have the right to take the lives of others.
De grâce, libérez-les. La pensée ne se laisse pas emprisonner.
There is no modern civilization without human rights and democracy.
This type of Demonic activity will always continue in one form or another. We must declare total War on Islam and eradicate Mohammeds words and the Mullahs .
I strongly condemn this horrendous sentence and I urge everyone to raise awareness of this exceptional abuse of human rights.
Release them NOW!
Copywriter from London.
Law Student in the UK
What a horrible regime.
Freelance Translator, the Netherlands
Civil Servant, Ireland. I wish to sign on to your letter.
Health Visitor,Scotland.
Copenhagen, Denmark
Editor
I ask the State of Iran to reform in such a way that its good citizens no longer need to feel ashamed of it. The State must change so that it ceases to be universally loathed by all decent human beings.
Sakineh Mohammedi Ashtiani and those arrested for caring about her must be freed.
All stoning must stop, and all arbitrary arrests ended.
Typical..
I hope they’re released.
Libertarian, Freethinker, Humourist,
Isle of Man
this is wrong
Hope your voice will be heard!!
Holland
BANKER, TORONTO, CANADA
Arresting these people is contrary to your claim to be an Islamic republic. Islam is supposed to be a compassionate religion – but where is your compassion? Are you really so blind as not too see how releasing all those concerned would improve your world standing beyond measure?
France – U.K.
Peter Kulcsar, Market Researcher, London, UK
I support the open letter and call on the Islamic Republic of Iran for the release of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, Sajjad Ghaderzadeh, Houtan Kian, and the German journalist.
Sonja Völker
Sweden
Physicist
University Professor, Strasbourg, France
Repression breeds resistance – find a way to peaceful coexistance!
Graduate, Poland
Stop lunatic religious persecution now.
For the love of your God, release these people immediately.
STOP KILLING HUMANBEINGS for ignorant political publicity….WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE..this is the 21 CENTURY..THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA SEES THESE ACTS AS BARBARIC..AND BEHIND THE TIMES>>>STOP USEINg PEOPLE AS ANIMALS >>>>YOU HAVE “NO HEART” PLEASE RECONSIDER YOUR POLITICAL IDOLOGIES WITHOUT ACCOUNTABILITY >>>THIS IS DICTATORSHIP…………
Programmer / Analyst
STOP!
The actions of a failed state using religion as a weapon of subjugation. I condemn the actions of the regime absolutely.
stop this inhuman barbaric act on women NOW!! the usa deems these actions as unlawfull and illigal……goes to show to us political prisoners are only used to terrorize and bully this is a dictarship type of mindset..please reconsider for the good of your people…and for all mothers around the world….she s a mother with children……..and a very BRAVE humanbeing…..her jailing HAS BEEN ENOUGH PUNISHMENT…SET HER FREE………PLEASE!!
Netherlands
Jusice demands that these innocent people are released immediately
Japan
Engineer
I add my voice to the letter.
Classics teacher, Université de Provence
Arresting dissenters only serves to demonstrate the paranoia of the state and a recognition that its actions are indefensible violations of the human rights of their victims.
Iran should cease harming women who remarry after being widowed (the original ‘crime’ Sakineh Mohammedi Ashtiani was tried for).
It should release her son and their lawyer, and the two foreign nationals who were visiting them.
How can anyone take seriously a nation that seems to believe that stoning/executing women (and anyone else) for engaging in normal human behaviours such as emotional and physical relationships is tantamount to national security?
How can anyone take seriously a nation that seems to belive that people who question them and campaign for a government not to execute their mother in a most brutal and barbaric fashion are dangerous subversives?
People will be free. There is no force in the universe greater than the need for freedom; against that force the power of armies and tyrants cannot stand. Life finds a way.
Give Sakineh, her son, their lawyer and the journalist and photographer their lives back. They have done nothing to you.
You have punished the murderers of her husband less that you wish to punish her – do you seriously call that justice and keep a straight face?
We , people free , sensitive and democratic, ask and demand immediately the release of all arrested relatively the Sakineh Asthiani Mohammad case .
DEATH PENALTY and STONING , that is so barbaric , must be stopped and abbolished , all around the world .
An Architect .
City of Tripolis , Greece .
Despicable acts by an increasingly desparate government.
Social Worker, Canada
We, people free,sensitive and democratic, demand that all arrested, relatively to Sakineh Asthiani Mohammad case, be immediately release and free. DEATH PENALTY and STONING, that is so barbaric, must be stopped, all around the world.
An architect, city of TRIPOLIS-GREECE.
Retired Professor
For the love of your God, release them now.
In support of the above letter.
I was born in a beautiful world. A world of love, affection and forgiveness.
Stop making it bad. You have no right to kill a helpless woman. Your god will not forgive you for killing another one of his creations. And nothing can justify your cruel act. Remember that a day will come when you’ll answer Allah, Jesus or any other God that you believe in.
May god give you the strength to forgive.
doctoral student, legal anthropology, Poland.
I say to respect Humain Rights and the life of people (…)
Please abolish stoning and capital punishment for non-violent offenses.
I implore the Iran to put an end to stoning and capital punishment for minor offenses. Please show mercy in your wisdom.
Il est temps de réagir !!! il est temps d’imposer au gouvernement de ce monde qu’on nomme “libre” de réagir !!! une vie humaine est plus importante qu’un sujet de nucléaire a la con !!!
Pardonnes moi Sakineh !!! pardonnes mon silence !!! j’allumerais chaque nuit une bougie pour toi !!! peut être que j’arriverais a éclairer l’obscurité de ta cellule!!! peut être qu’elle peut faire fondre la glace du cœur de tes geôliers !!!
Writer and mother, Canada
You have my total support in trying to stop these Barbaric Acts.
Civil Engineer, North Wales. UK.
You have my total support in trying to stop these Barbaric Acts
What if we live by each others happiness and not by each others misery? Charly Chaplin, The Great Dictator:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BbFs6fQGow&eurl=
Space Engineer, Sweden
Writer, Germany
student, Poland
I support the sentiments in this letter. Please release these 4 people immediately!
These malcious actions only prove to the rest of the world, what sort of country you wish to be, and will continue to be. This wrong! This is WRONG.
Please release Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani and all the other ones involved in the matter. Please stop prosecuting people for what they do in their private lives.
The powers in Iran are in desparate need of treatment for paranoia. The only title we should ever put before their names, rather than President, etc, is “Silly”, as a constant reminder of our total lack of respect.
Release those people and all the political prisoners. This is the 21th century, not the stone age.
Former academic in Iranian Studies.
Those of us who know and love Iran are aware of how much damage things like this do to the country’s reputation. Shame on a regime that hates its own people so much.
David Garofalo
Research
USA
Software engineer, Netherlands
Free sakineh Ashtiani, free her son and their lawyer, free all prisoners who are unjust imprisoned according to the international standards!
Ohio State University, USA
Free Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani’s son, Sajjad Ghaderzadeh, and lawyer, Houtan Kian.
Out with the mullahs, arrest Ahmadinejad, Khamenei and all the evil theocrats. Remember Neda!
Demorcracy and human rights for Iran now. Stop stoning now!
I endorse the comment of the previous writer, Dean.
Anne Power Manchester Green Party
Shame with the islamic theocracy’s reign of terror since 1979. Stop Stoning Now and allow journalists to report freely. Free Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, Sajjad Ghaderzadeh, and Houtan Kian and all political prisoners in Iran. Remember Neda!
Stop barbarism.
The abduction of these 4 individuals demonstrates to the world Iran authorities have something to hide. There form of censorship violates human rights and only serves to feed suspicion and distaste for the way in which they conduct themselves. To take the innocent demonstrates how weak their argument is for justifying such abhorrent sentences and tThe individuals responsible for this adbuction are brutal cowards.
I support this cause
Winchcombe, England
video producer
Teacher Tunisia
Teacher. Tunisia
I agree with the above statements.
video producer.
Project Mgr.
United States of America
I totally support the concerns and principles of this letter
University of Tokyo, Japan
I am appalled at the actions of the Iranian authorities in this matter.
Company Director, London UK
Release all of them!
Iran is giving Islam a bad name.
There is a perception in many Western circles that Islam is a cruel and barbaric religion. The actions of the Iranian authorities only serve to confirm that perception.
Please add my name to the others.
I am a Canadian researcher, writer and consultant, and have prepared a blogpost on this:
http://drdawgsblawg.blogspot.com/2010/10/iran-show-must-go-on.html
Collective member, Women Won’t Forget
Tired of the world sitting back on it’s hackles whilst Islamic countries use the radical tenants of Islam to abuse human rights and wreck havoc, violence, intolerance and mysogony onto it’s populations.
Belgium, Indymedia Antwerp.
It is high time this country joined the civilized world. To effect this the entire political regime has to cease acting like what the Germans call “untermenschen” – subhumans. Ideally you should reject what imparts the disgusting qualities in which you seem to revel – yes ISLAM! It would be far better to become absolute atheists but, in so doing, you would, without doubt, acquire good basic human ethics, human decency and compassion.
london…..UK
Humanist, Trade Union Representative
University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Italy
sweden
Content manager, Lithuania
Cochabamba, Bolivia
Do not hesitate to sign – one day it could be you locked in a prison for no reason.
Andrea Ashford, Human Rights Activist, Nottingham, UK
Sales Director
What in the hell? What is WRONG WITH IRAN????? This is a very serious violation of human rights and freedom.
Delia Worthing, Graphic Designer and Human Rights Advocate, Canada
Marketing Director, Sweden
german -persian photographer – requesting the immediate release of lawyer, son of ashtiani and the two german journalists
This is a stone age punishment from a stone age religion. Its the 21st century please join us.
It is about time that Iran established a civilised & democratic form of government, mindful of the needs of minorities for protection, and for establishing a humane & decent form of jurisprudence, based on rationality & reason, not on supernaturalism & theocratic diktat
director, Sweden
This has to stop. No childish excuses. She was found ‘guilty’ on the basis of misidentification, even were she guilty of anything, and this childish insistence of the Iranian government on killing one person for another person’s choice of clothing is worse than bizarre, worse, than based on spurious logic, it highlights them for what they are; slaves to a bogus system of law.
Please release the four mentioned above and do the right thing.
U.S.A.
Helen Cusack O’Keeffe, social worker/writer, London and Paris
Scotland
These four people must be released. There is NO reason for arresting them. STONING ( barbaric !) and DEATH PENALTY must be stopped all over the world.
The actions of the Iranian government are atrocious.l
Teacher, England
Though the Iranbian Regime tries extensively, to hush the campaign to ultimately release Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani and all persons involved are thereatened severly, it is quite reinforcing to see how internationally the sihgnatories are. The comments given by some newspapaer readers after the bad news of the arrests – a minority, but neither rightist, nor fundamentalist, were a shame: facing the consequences wirhout permit etc. Neurotic and underpinned by “antiimperialist” stuff, they pointed to the killing of German-grown terrorists, claimed by the ISAF asking for similiar complaints. In the end, the democrats of the world shall win, because Ms Mohammadi Ashtiani has become an exemplary case for women’s, humanties’ and justice’s plights, against an authoritarian ignorant state.
[...] To see a list of the 80 signatories to the letter, click here: http://stopstonningnow.com/wpress/4155 [...]
[...] To see a list of the 80 signatories to the letter, click here: http://stopstonningnow.com/wpress/4155 [...]
I unequivocally condemn the Islamic Republic of Iran for the arrests and call for the immediate release of the four. I also demand the release of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani and an end to stoning and execution.
no more stoning to death, no more hanging, no more death penalty
No Killing. For whatever reason.
I totally support the concerns and principles of this letter
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by earwicga, Iran Solidarity and Maryam Namazie, ICAS. ICAS said: English : Open letter demanding release of Sakineh, her son, lawyer and two journalists http://stopstonningnow.com/wpress/4155 [...]
These arrests are the latest outrageous violations of internationally recognized human rights. The callous disregard for Sakineh Ashtiani, her son and lawyer and supportive journalistsand are an indictment of Iran and the totalitarian religion which empowers it. I add my voice to those who are demanding the release of all these prisoners, and an end to brutality.
Release the 4 people immediately
IT Consultant, UK
[...] To see a list of the 80 signatories to the letter, click here. [...]
Organisation: Verdi, Germany
University of Linz
Editor, The Leicester Secularist
OK…
Here’s my comment.. for what it’s worth…
I deplore this ludicrous sentence and completely reject the dark age religious morality which spawned it.
I completely reject all political ideologies supporting this sentence, as politics without accountability is dictatorship.
I urge the state of Iran and all its institutions to come to its senses, to cease to harm and brutalise it’s citizens, to free its political prisoners and begin the work of reform for the good of all its people.
Richard Harris, Structural Engineer, UK
The Islamic Republic of Iran does not conform to the internationally accepted norms of civilized behaviour.